The confusion caused by conflicting Government Gazettes, inconsistent application of regulations by Port Health and fluctuating travel advisories about the requirements to re-enter South Africa, is being further fuelled by first-hand reports that travellers are being waved through OR Tambo with PCR tests considerably older than 72 hours.
While the latest Government Gazettes issued by the Departments of Health, Cooperative Governance and Transport include conflicting information about the requirements to depart from South Africa, all are clear that a valid negative 72-hour PCR test is required for a passenger to enter or re-enter South Africa unless (according to the Department of Health) the passenger is classed as a ‘frequent traveller’.
Owner of Houston Travel Marketing, Derek Houston, told Travel News that he obtained a negative PCR test in Johannesburg on November 30 before leaving for a short work trip to Tanzania.
“I travelled to Moshi, Tanzania, via Addis and stayed in Tanzania for a total of 78 hours. There was no way I could get a test done there, as results take at least three days to receive because the tests are sent to Dar es Salaam. While I had no problems leaving Tanzania, I was nearly denied boarding for my flight from Addis Ababa to OR Tambo, as Ethiopian Airlines picked up that my PCR test was older than 72 hours. I explained to a supervisor that I could do a test on arrival at Johannesburg and signed a disclaimer stating that the airline was not liable for any associated risks, and I was eventually allowed to board. When I arrived back at JNB I presented my November 30 PCR test (which was seven days old at this stage) and was waved through without any need to obtain a new test,” said Derek.
“Many business travellers fly into Africa and stay only two or three days in regions where there are no facilities for them to get a new PCR test before flying home. Please can Asata, TBCSA and the airlines flag this problem to government?” asked Derek.
Airlink’s marketing and sales manager, Karin Murray, said about 90% of the calls that Airlink was receiving at present related to confusion about the various travel regulations.
“Travel regulations vary from country to country and are changing constantly at the moment. We upload the most recent regulations as per timatic on our website and require all our passengers to board with a negative PCR test result,” said Karin, adding that it was the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that the PCR tests were within the valid time period required to enter a particular country. She also recommended the COVID testing station at OR Tambo, which she said was being well-used by travellers and was able to deliver test results within two to six hours for passengers who had been unable to acquire tests at an earlier stage.
Aasa ceo, Chris Zweigenthal, said Aasa, together with Barsa, the TBCSA and Asata, had submitted a joint letter to government in which they had highlighted areas that could eradicate confusion, through harmonisation and simplification of the legislation, without increasing the risk to travellers in any way.
Chris advised travellers to make every effort to acquire a 72-hour test to re-enter South Africa.
